Here at the MaastrichtMBA, we love our alumni and enjoy staying in touch! We recently caught up with class of 2019 alumna Sowaba Shehzad and reminisced over her experience at MaastrichtMBA and her current life. Read more to see what she is doing with all of that potential!
Having previously completed two master’s degrees, one in International Relations and another MBA from my home country, my motivation wasn’t simply to add another qualification My decision to pursue an MBA lies in a childhood dream to study at a European University one I had to postpone due to early life responsibilities in Pakistan. After relocating to Germany, I chose to make that long-held aspiration into reality through MaastrichtMBA. Yet as the journey unfolded, it became so much more. It broadened my perspective, deepened my critical thinking, and helped me build a strong, international network of peers, professors, and mentors. It was both a personal milestone and a profoundly enriching experience.
I chose MaastrichtMBA because its modular format offered the flexibility I needed as a full-time entrepreneur. The strong focus on leadership development especially through the Leadership Development Trajectory that aligned with my desire for deeper personal growth. From the beginning, the admissions and programme teams were welcoming, responsive, and genuinely supportive. It was clear that the structure and culture of the programme were thoughtfully designed for experienced professionals. The curriculum blends academic depth with hands-on application, making it both intellectually stimulating and directly relevant to real business challenges.
What appealed to me most was the programmes balance combining flexibility, academic rigour, and personal development. I had the sense that this wouldn’t just be an academic journey, but potentially something more meaningful and in hindsight, that intuition proved to be true.
The programmes greatest impact on me was the development of a more reflective mindset. While I already approached business with a strategic lens, the MBA encouraged me to slow down, question assumptions, and engage with theory in a way that elevated my thinking.
Assignments such as my thesis and those in the sustainability and entrepreneurship modules enabled me to critically analyse and document the transformation initiatives I was leading in my company. This integration of practice and academic insight added greater depth and dimension to my decision-making and leadership.
Start by reflecting on your goals; not just professionally, but also personally. What are you truly seeking from an MBA? Are you aiming to accelerate your career, grow as a leader, broaden your worldview, or reassess your approach to business? Having clarity on this will help you choose the right programme for your needs.
It’s also important to evaluate your current background. If you already have a strong theoretical foundation, you might benefit more from a hands-on, applied approach and vice versa. In my opinion, what sets MaastrichtMBA apart is its ability to support professionals at different stages of their journey, combining academic depth with practical relevance and strong leadership development.
Personally, I found the programme to be exceptionally well-balanced offering flexibility through its modular format, intellectual challenge through its coursework, and emotional depth through its coaching and peer interactions. If you’re ready to engage deeply with the content, your peers, and yourself, this programme can be a transformational journey in more ways than one.
An MBA is a holistic programme that offers a well-rounded experience developing not only business knowledge but also leadership capabilities, critical thinking and emotional intelligence. MBA graduates bring more than just technical knowledge. They offer a broader mindset, greater adaptability, and the ability to connect dots across functions and industries. These qualities are especially valuable for employers in today’s fast-evolving business environment.
In my own company, I’ve observed how individuals with strong technical backgrounds can sometimes become fixed in their thinking. An MBA helps broaden that perspective: equipping people to lead more effectively, innovate, and collaborate across functions.
The cultural diversity and collaborative spirit of the cohort made a lasting impression. The programme created an environment of trust, openness, and mutual learning that enables strong connections that often developed into lasting friendships and professional bonds.
I also appreciated how our own business challenges could be brought into the classroom, making the academic content highly relevant and directly applicable. At the same time,vit allowed us to gain external perspectives from both peers and professors through insightful and critical discussions.These exchanges often led to valuabe insights that added depth to my decision-making and helped me view my own strategies through a more informed lens.
One of the most valuable aspects of the programme for me was the Leadership Development coaching. It provided a rare space for deep personal reflection, something I had often overlooked amid the pace and pressures of entrepreneurship. The coaching sessions encouraged me to explore areas of personal growth that I had long set aside, helping me develop a more balanced approach to both well-being and leadership.
Another highlight was the International Week at EADA Business School in Barcelona, which brought together a highly diverse and culturally rich cohort in a vibrant academic setting. The week was intellectually stimulating, with excellent faculty who facilitated engaging, thought-provoking sessions. What made it especially memorable was how thoughtfully the MaastrichtMBA team had designed and delivered the module—it struck the perfect balance between academic challenge and immersive, shared experience.
The diversity of perspectives, the quality of discussions, and the camaraderie we built during that week made it truly enriching. It’s not just a cherished memory for me, but one that many of us in the cohort still talk about—an experience that left a lasting impression on us all.
